In Rwanda, the National Dialogue Council, also known as Umushyikirano, is one of the home-grown solutions that aims at enriching and adapting the country’s development programs to its needs and context. 

Grounded in Article 168 of the Rwandan Constitution, Umushyikirano is an annual event chaired by the President of Rwanda. It gives Rwandans from all walks of life the opportunity to have discussions directly with their leaders.

The event is attended by members of cabinet and parliament, representatives of the Rwandan community abroad, local government officials, the media, the diplomatic community and others invited by the Head of State.

Those unable to attend in person participate through calling in by telephone, SMS, Twitter and Facebook or follow the discussions live on television and radio. Umushyikirano serves as a leading example of participatory and inclusive governance. By directly engaging with their leaders, Rwandans are part of the decision-making process on matters that affects their lives.

Introduced in 2003, the event has become a forum for Rwandans to hold their leaders to account.

Each Umushyikirano has a theme on which participants pose questions, or deal with any other development issue. Once a question is asked, either in person or virtually, the leader in charge responds. All questions are recorded. All issues raised are tackled as national issues.

After three years of suspension because of Covid-19 restrictions, Umushyikirano is now back and is expected to take place on February 27-28.

It is going to be time for celebrating the country’s recent achievements including hosting the June 2022 commonwealth heads of state and government meeting (CHOGM) peacefully, holding accountable the pending deliverables from government, and highlighting public opinions and wishes based on the current state of the nation.

How impactful has Umushyikirano been?

In 2012, Umushyikirano was held under the theme “Agaciro: Aiming for self-reliance,” where discussions based on promoting principles and values of self-reliance in Rwanda.

It was after Agaciro Development Fund was initiated by Rwandans in December 2011 at the ninth Umushyikirano, as the Rwanda's sovereign wealth fund. The then theme was “Strive for our dignity, together we pitch for rapid development”, with aim of focusing on approaches used by Rwandans to find home grown solutions and self- development.

 

“The new Rwanda is about building an economy that delivers prosperity and development for our citizens based on a robust private sector. Foreign adventures would be costly and counterproductive distractions from this challenging objectives,” said President Paul Kagame to Tony Metcalf of metro, a US based media, following Agaciro Development Fund initiative.

The same year, Umushyikirano discussed the second economic development and poverty reduction strategy (EDPRS II) which was published in May 2013, to be implemented until 2018. The previous EDPRS I was set 2008-2012.

The EDPRS II was one of a series of medium-term national poverty reduction and economic development strategies used in implementing ‘Vision 2020’ which was a translation of Rwandans’ aspirations for the future of their country, in the post 1994 Genocide recovery.

The Vision presented a framework and key priorities for Rwanda’s development and a guiding tool for the future, and was ambitious to overcome poverty and foster unity and reconciliation.

As result, Rwanda experienced robust economic and social performance. Growth averaged 7.2 per cent a year over the decade to 2019, while per capita gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 5 per cent.

Infrastructure developed as well.

The Kivu Belt road opened in 2017, linking five districts in Western province – Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro and Rubavu – and connecting Rwanda to neighboring countries - DRC and Burundi.

Gisagara which was, for long, labeled as Rwanda’s only district without a tarmac road, since 2020 got Huye–Ndora road. Others include the Nyaruguru-Huye road and Gicumbi-Base road.

It is safe to say that the government delivered and, now citizens are maximizing their business activities, as movement of goods and services now takes shorter time.

Transformational ideas that have come out of Umushyikirano include the idea of mediation committees (Abunzi) who contribute to solving local disputes without intervention of courts.

To prevent stunting and malnutrition as well as reduce poverty, Rwandans proposed the idea of having at least one cow per poor family (Girinka), for improving health and wealth.

Through the platform, the government has worked to provide access to safe drinking water within less than 30 minutes from citizens’ home. Accessing electricity has increased, and 84 per cent of Rwandans are offered access to healthcare, mutuelle de santé, which allows the citizens to have access to primary health care.

Among Rwandans, Umushyikirano is seen as one of the most effective approach of the country’s governance philosophy and consensual democracy.

It not only promotes accountability as a value but also nurtures Rwandans’ ownership of all developments in the country.